Methods for locating and positioning, locating system, charging station, and charging system

• US 10,459,081 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Heuer, Jorg, Schmitt, Anton, Zhang, Xi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US15/505,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20170269205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/881 for robotics
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4095 the external reference signals being modulated, e.g. rotating a dihedral reflector or modulating a transponder for simulation of a Doppler echo
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/415 Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/418 Theoretical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The method for locating a certain object is a method for locating the object by means of a detected locating signal. With this method, locating of precisely this object is checked in such a way that an object with at least a temporally variable reflective property is used, and an influence of this reflective property on the detected locating signal is checked. The locating system has a locating sensor for locating an object by means of a locating signal detected by a locating sensor, as well as an evaluating device which is configured to check an influence of a temporally variable reflective property of the object on the locating signal detected by the locating sensor.

Claims

1. A method for locating an object using a detected locating signal, the method comprising:

checking the locating of the object such that the object used has at least one temporally variable reflection property; and

checking an influence of the at least one temporally variable reflection property on the detected locating signal,

wherein the at least one temporally variable reflection property is formed by an oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object moving away from and towards a sensor, such that the object is located based on a frequency of oscillation of the oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locating is radio locating, laser locating, or acoustic locating.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the radio locating is radar locating, the detected locating signal is a radar signal, the object is formed with metal, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one temporally variable reflection property is a temporally periodic reflection property.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one temporally variable reflection property is formed by at least one oscillatory or rotatory movement of at least one part of the object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one temporally variable reflection property is formed by a movement of a piezoelectric oscillator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the influence on the detected locating signal is checked spectrally.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the influence of the at least one temporally variable reflection property in a range of a frequency or of frequencies of at least 300 Hz on the detected locating signal is checked.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the influence of the at least one temporally variable reflection property in the range of the frequency or of the frequencies of at most 1 MHz on the detected locating signal is checked.

10. A method for positioning an electric vehicle at a charging station, the method comprising:

detecting a position of the electric vehicle by a method for locating an object using a detected locating signal, the method for locating comprising;

checking the locating of the object such that the object used has at least one temporally variable reflection property, the at least one temporally variable reflection property being formed by an oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object moving away from and towards a sensor, such that the object is located based on a frequency of oscillation of the oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object; and

checking an influence of the at least one temporally variable reflection property on the detected locating signal,

wherein the object comprises at least one part of the electric vehicle, the object is arranged at least partly on the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

11. A locating system comprising:

a locating sensor configured to locate an object using a locating signal detected by the locating sensor; and

an evaluation device configured to check an influence of a temporally variable reflection property of the object on the locating signal detected by the locating sensor, the temporally variable reflection property of the object formed by an oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object moving away from and towards the locating sensor, such that the object is located based on a frequency of oscillation of the oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object.

12. The locating system of claim 11, wherein the locating is radio locating, laser locating, or acoustic locating.

13. A charging station for charging an electric vehicle, the charging station comprising:

a locating system for positioning the electric vehicle, the locating system comprising;

a locating sensor configured to locate an object using a locating signal detected by the locating sensor; and

an evaluation device configured to check an influence of a temporally variable reflection property of the object on the locating signal detected by the locating sensor, the temporally variable reflection property of the object formed by an oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object moving away from and towards the locating sensor, such that the object is located based on a frequency of oscillation of the oscillatorily deflected reflection surface of the object,

wherein the charging station is configured for inductively charging the electric vehicle.

14. A charging system comprising:

a charging station for charging an electric vehicle, the charging station comprising;

a locating system for positioning the electric vehicle, the locating system comprising;

a locating sensor configured to locate an object using a locating signal detected by the locating sensor; and

an evaluation device configured to check an influence of a temporally variable reflection property of the object on the locating signal detected by the locating sensor, wherein the charging station is configured for inductively charging the electric vehicle; and

an identification element of the electric vehicle, the identification element comprising parts that are movable relative to one another in a direction towards and away from the locating sensor, the temporally variable reflection property being formed by the parts that are movable relative to one another, such that movement of the parts cause an oscillation frequency in the locating signal,

wherein the object is located based on the oscillation frequency of the locating signal.

15. The charging system of claim 14, wherein the identification element comprises an oscillator that oscillates at the oscillation frequency.

16. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the oscillator is a piezoelectric oscillator.

17. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the oscillation frequency is at least 300 Hz.

18. The charging system of claim 14, wherein the parts are movable periodically.